Celts hope trip stirs up winning mix

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MILAN — The bonding thing has been driven like a nail into the Celtics’ collective consciousness during this trip, which ended Sunday with a 105-75 win over Olimpia Milano in the Mediolanum Forum.

But no amount of group dinners, field trips and bus time is going to make a difference if the basketball doesn’t improve. And after seeing the bad (against Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul) as well as the good (Sunday) from his team, Celtics coach Doc Rivers needed to watch the video during last night’s flight home.

“I don’t know the answer,” the Celtics coach said of the basketball benefits from this trip. “I would say the basketball part has been really good. Playing two games against opponents you don’t know was a really good thing for us, because we have to figure it out. You can see the camaraderie and the ball movement and the extra passes. The Celtic Way is starting to get in all their blood, and you can see that.”

Rajon Rondo, who judging by the reception he received in Turkey and Italy has an enormous European fan base, sees no need to play a conservative hand.

After Sunday’s game, he said based on this Celtics roster, “I think it’s our best shot” in terms of chasing the franchise’s 18th NBA title.

“I think these last four or five days we’ve been able to bond and it’s translated on the court in terms of chemistry,” he said. “We’re moving the ball better than we ever have the past couple of years I’ve been here. We’re very unselfish, not just offensively but defensively. We try to help one another and it’s translated on the court.”

As has become increasingly apparent, the Celtics also are tied to Rondo’s rise as an NBA star. His 17-point, 7-for-7 first quarter on Sunday was electrifying, and not merely because of his playmaking skills. Four of those seven shots came from 20 feet or deeper. If Rondo is ready to take over more of the scoring load while also dishing to his increased array of options, then perhaps he is right.

“It also helped that we (started training) early on Sept. 4 in Boston,” Rondo said, “so we could develop our chemistry early.”

Jason Terry, after about a month of informal workouts followed by team-organized practices and two exhibition games, seems to agree.

“It’s been good for us,” said Terry. “We have several new guys, myself included and Courtney Lee. Jeff Green, with the layoff he had, and then you have our rookies. (Jared) Sullinger is playing great right now. It’s a process. Whether we win or lose in preseason, it’s about are we playing Celtic basketball. That means defensively — are we rebounding, are we up into our man? Offensively are we sharing the ball? I think we will continue to build.

“What Rondo said about getting here on Sept. 4, we’re about a month and a half into this process, and it’s all on him. He’s the leader of this team, and him bringing us together has meant a lot. As you can see, our chemistry is pretty good, guys knowing where to be and when to be there.

“We still have a ways to go, but as far as the lineup, this is a deep team.”

Judging from Rondo’s high level of excitement, the Celtics may be uncommonly deep. Allow him to count the ways.

“This team is very unselfish,” he said. “We have a lot of talented guys — the most talent since I’ve been here as a Celtic. Whoever is in the rotation, I’m going to find him, and guys know to get into their positions. Playing with a guy like JT, a 14-year veteran, he knows where to be on the floor. He knows when I drive baseline to go short corner.

“Jared Sullinger, his IQ is so high, you throw him in the starting lineup and he makes plays for us,” Rondo said. “He does the little things, even outlet passes. I don’t take it for granted. There’s just a lot of continuity, and we’ve made a lot of improvements since the last time we played.”